Sterilizer and the like.



W. G. BORN &I. L. LANE.

STERILIZER AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 19. I914- m o o a 0 e o o o u an: o 0 o o o o o oo 0 0 @o 3 IL 0 o o o o/ o oo o o 00 o 0 5 O 6 O 4 o o 7 o 0 o o o o o oo o o o o N N mm! w. e. BORN & J. L. LANE. STERILIZER AND THELIKE.

V APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19. I914. 1,177,846.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. G. BORN 61 J. L. LANE. STERILIZER AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION msn ocr.19. 1914. 1,177,846. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' ,fm In"? w. G. BORN & J. L.-LANE STEIRILIZER AND THE LIKE.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT. I9, I914. I 1,177,846. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- jwezz fors wwetfie'x THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60..WASHINGTON. D. C.

unrrnn STATES ra'rsnr orator.

WILLIAM G. BORN AND JAMES L. LANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TOJOHN MOIIR & SONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

STEBILIZER AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. f, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, \VILLIAM G. Bonn andJAMES L. LANE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany and a citizen of theUnited States, respectively, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sterilizers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention pertains to features of novelty and improvement inheaters, sterilizers, pasteurizers, and the like, and its lead ingpurposes and objects are the production of a device of this characterwhich shall be simple in structure, economical to manufacture. effectivein operation, and so constructed that the goods or articles to betreated may be loaded into and discharged from the appliance with easeand despatch.

The invention is particularly adapted for embodiment or incorporation ina sterilizer for milk cans or bottles, or the like, but it is understoodthat its use is not limited in this respect.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the sterilizer tank orcontainer has within it revoluble means or spiders adapted to supportand rotate a number of carriers or cradles, each loaded with the milkcans or bottles, such cradles constituting trucks or wheeled-carriages,whereby they can be readily inserted and withdrawn from the casing bythe employment of a suitable supporting trackway. Such truck cradles areso associated with the revoluble means in the casing or shell that theyare free to rotate on their own trunnions and in this way, alwaysmaintain their horizontal disposition and do not turn over. 7 7

Another salient feature of improvement resides in the provision of meansthe cradles are not free to be moved or rotated by the revoluble spidersin the casing unless they have been fully and properly inserted in theappliance. Stated differently, the device is so constructed that by themere act of insertion of the cradle or truck in the casing or shell itsweight is automatically shifted from the supporting trackway to thespiders so that it is ready for rotation.

These, with other features of novelty and improvement will be ap arentto those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the invention,

a cast-steel or plate-portion whereby 20, 20. and supplied for the reartrunnion which is illustrated inthe 6 companying drawings forming a partof this specification, and to which reference should be made inconsidering the description of the construction and operation of thedevice.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical central sectionthrough the appliance with a number of the cradles or carriers omittedfor the sake of clearness of illustration, the section being taken online 11 of Fig. 2 with the door in its closed position; Fig. 2 is anelevation of the lefthand end of the appliance shown in Fig. 1, the doorbeing shown in open position; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line33 0 Fig. 1; Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section on line 4.-4: of Fig. 1;Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation and partial section. of the frontspider and the trunnion block of one of the carriages; Fig. 6 is adetail section through the rear end trunnion of one of. the cradles orcarriages; and Fig. 7 is a transverse section through one of thecradle-trucks on an enlarged scale on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings it will be observed that the appliancecomprises a cylindrical sheet-metal shell 10 equipped with front andrear walls 11 and 12, the shell or casing being mounted on suitablesaddles or supports 13,13, and supplied with any desired number ofpipe-connections 1 1-, 14:, for the introduction of steam or otherheating media. The front and rear walls are equipped with the bearings15 and 16 accommodating the shaft 17 which extends through the rearbearing 16 and, is driven or rotated by any suitable mechanism, notshown. At its rear portion inside of the casing or shell, the shaft 17has keyed thereto a ribbed support or spider 18 consisting of with aplurality of ribs 21 radiating from the central hub 22. This spider, atthe end of each rib, is recessed at 23, the recessbeing' bounded by themarginal rib 24, the two ends of which project beyond the periphery ofthe spider forming supports for a pin or shaft 25 revoluble on which isa concave roller 26, the curved surface of which, in conjunction withthe companion curved surface of the rib :23 forms a substantiallycylindrical opening or bearing of the cradle truck de- In the presentinstance and trunnion bearings scribed hereinafter. eight ofthese'rollers 19 apertured at are shown, but of course, the number isimmaterial and may be modified within wide limits.

In the casing at its front end a forward support or spider is keyed tothe shaft, such spider being illustrated in elevation in Fig. Itcomprises a central hub 28 keyed to the shaft and a surroundingcast-steel or plateportion 29 of octagon shape apertured at 30,

30 and bounded by an rib or enlargement 31. from the part 31 is thebifurcated at 33, 33, forming eight square or rectangular openings 34.Each of the arms 33 on its outer face has a recess 35, the outer wall 36of which, (Fig. 1,) inclines slightly toward the shaft.

At the bottom of thecasing inside of the same there is provided a pairof suitably supported angle rails 37 and 38 notched as shown in Fig. 1,at 39, 40 and ll and. terminating somewhat short of the position of therear spider 18, as is fully shown. The appliance is also provided with aplurality of wheeled cradles or trucks 42, 43, i i. 45, 46, 47, 48, and4.9, (Fig. 3), each of which has a bottom composed of an invertedchannel bar 50, (Fig. 7), to the depending flanges of which are fastenedthe two Z-bars 51 and 52. A pair of bars extend around the top of thecradle, being connected to the outer upstanding flanges of the Z-bars bysuitable vertical and inclined bars 54, 55, and 56, these forming anopen or lattice-work casing or carrier for the accommodation of the milkcans, bottles, material to be treated Each cradle or carriage isequipped with four shafts 57, 58, 59, and 60, revoluble in bearings inthe flanges of the bars 50, 51 and 52, and supplied at their ends withflanged rollers-or wheels 61 adapted totravel on the horizontal flangesof the angle rails 37 and 38, as illustrated in F 3. These shafts andtheir wheels or rollers are spaced apart on the cradle or carriagedistances corresponding to the unequal distances between the notches ofthe rails forming the trackway so that when any of the cradle trucks isfully inserted in the casing. as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1,all of its wheels or rollers will be free from the rails, the rollerbeing beyond the ends of the rails. The spacing or disposition of theserollers and rail notches is such that at: all times the cradle will besupported on three bars or wheels except when the cradle reaches theposition shown in Fig. 1, in which it will not be sup-- ported by any ofthe wheels. Obviously then, the cradle can be pushed into the easing orshell on the trackway'and whenever any pair of wheels or rollers reachesone of the notches they cannot descend into the notches because thecradle on the remaining wheels.

octagonal marginal Extended. outwardly plurality of arms 32 or othercontainers for the equipped with willbe supported This does not holdtrue, however, when the cradle is fully pushed home, for as shown inFig. 1, the cradle is then supported by the shaft spiders, as describedhereinafter. The rear end of each of these cradle trucks or carriages ispreferably formed by bending upwardly a portion 50 of the bottomchannel-bar 50, which accon'nnodates between its flangesa block 62fastened to the upturned web of the channel by the rivets 63, andsecured to the upper cross-bar by the rivets shown on a somewhatenlarged scale in Fig. 6. This block carries an outwardly extendedstud-shaft 65 around which are grouped the rollers 66' on which atrunnion-shell 67 is adapted to revolve, the parts being held in placeby a cap-screw 68, (Figs. 1 and 6), cooperating with a washer 69provided with a dowel-pin 70. It should be understood that Fig. 6 is asection just inside of the washer so that the cap screw and dowel pinvare in section, the other parts being in elevation. It should beobserved also that the trunnion 67 is somewhat tapered to facilitate itspassage into its bearing on the spider 18, the bearing being composed inpart by the co? operating concave-roller 26.

The front end 50 of each of the carriers trucks is desirably formed bybending upwardly the end of the bottom channel 50 so as to accommodatebetween its flanges a block 71 riveted thereto and to the top cross-bar53, this block having integral there-: with a shouldered projection, thesmaller cylindrical part 7 2 of which constitutes the trunnion. On thistrunnion is fitted an apertured trunnion bearing block 73 provided witha. cylindrical bronze bushing 74 64, asis receiving the trunnion 72. Themain body of this block is of substantially rectangular form, as shownin Fig. 5, and is adapted to be received between the pair of, arms 33,33. Extended from the opposite ends ofthis block are a pair ofstud-shafts 75, 75, each a steel or bronze sleeve 76, these two sleevesbeing adapted to be received in a pair of recesses 35, 35, of thecompanion arms 33 33. In order to lock the bearing block in place in thefront spider, it is supplied with a spring-pressed. catch 77 adapted toenter a-suitable aperture 78 in one of the arms 33 when the block isproperly inserted in position.

At its front end the casing or shell 10 is provided with an opening ordoorway 79 adapted to be closed and sealed by an internal door 80,theconstruction andoperation of which need not here be described, as itforms no part of this present invention.

Operation: The operation of this appliance takes place substantiallyzasfollows: Assuming that one of the cradles or trucks 46 has been chargedor loaded with filled milk cans, bottles, or the like, and that the door80 is open, the shaft 17 and :its comthe companion opening 34: of thefront spider are in proper register with the trackway. Then the truck orcradle is pushed through the casing opening or doorway 79, the cradlerollers traveling on the companion rails of the notched trackway. Asillustrated in the drawings, the doorway is not of sufficient width topermit the passage through it of the bearing-block 73 and its supports75 in a horizontal position and to permit this passage, the block 73 isturned in a vertlcal position. As soon, however, as

' the block has passed through the doorway,

it is turned down into horizontal position and the carriage pushed fullyrearwardly on the trackway into the position shown in Fig. 1. The cradletrunnion GT'engages the roller 26 before the wheels or rollers of thecradle arrive at their corresponding notches or depressions in thetrackway, and the bearings 7 6 enter the pair of recesses 35 before thewheels of the cradle reach the notches. When the cradle is fully pushedhome so that its rollers are in register with the notches, the cradlewill be supported at its opposite ends by the roller 26 and the block 73, the latter in turn being supported by the front spider. The block 73is locked in place by the catch 77 and then the shaft 17 and the twospiders are rotated an eighth of a revolution for the insertion of thenext cradle with its load of cans or bottles. This operation iscontinued until the full complement of cradles is inserted. Then thedoor 80 is closed fluid-tight over the doorway and the steam or othermedium at proper ten 1-' perature for sterilizing or pasteurizing isturned into the casing and the contents of the cradles are subjected toits heating action. The shaft and its supply of loaded cradles may ormay not be rotated during the heating action, but it should be observed,however, that during the rotation of the spiders either during thesterilizing action or during their loading with the cradles, the

latter are free to maintain their horizontal disposition, as illustratedin Fig. 3, this tendency being facilitated owing to the location of thefront and rear trunnions above the centers of gravity of the cradles,Consequently, there is no danger of the cans or bottles turning over andthey do not necessarily, therefore, have to be air or liquidtight.

As soon as the sterilizing or pasteurizing action has been completed,the various cradles are withdrawn, as will be readily understood, thespiders being rotated so as to bring the cradles individually into regster with the rails of the trackway. It will be apparent that eachcradle will be supported by the trackway before its support with thespiders ceases.

If desired, the width of the casing doorway may be sufficient to permitthe passage of the block 7 3 and its support 7 5 in a horizontalposition, thus doing away with the necessity of turning'it for itsinsertion and withdrawal.

It should be clear that during the rotation of the spiders, each cradleis sometimes supported by its cooperating concave roller 26 while atother times andat other portionsof its revolution it is supporteddirectly by the concave recess 23, the roller and recess forming asubstantially cylindrical bearing for the trunnion, permitting itsrotation therein.

To those skilled in this art it will be apparent that various minormechanical changes may be incorporated in the structure shown anddescribed without departure from the substance of the invention, andwithout the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.derstood further that the term spider as used inthis specification andin the appended claims is employed in its broad meaning and is notnecessarily limited to the use of radiating-arms since any suitablyshaped supports mounted on the shaft will properly perform the requiredsupporting function.

Ne claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shell orcasing, a revoluble shaft in said casing, a recessed spider revolublewith said shaft, a roller'mounted on said spider and associated withsaid recess, a cradle adapted to contain the articles to be treated andto be inserted in and with drawn from said casing, and a trunnion onsaid cradle adapted to be inserted inand cooperate with said spiderrecess and roller,- the wallof said recess and the roller forming abearing for the trunnion, permitting the cradle to maintain itshorizontal disposition throughout its rotative movement with the spider,substantially as described. 2. In a device of the character described,the combination of a shell or casing, a revoluble shaft in said casing,a spider mounted on and revoluble with said shaft, said spider having arecess with a concave surface, a roller with a concave surface mountedon said spider, a cradle adapted to contain the articles to be treatedand adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from said casing, a trunnionon said cradle adapted to be received in the space formed by said spiderrecess and the roller, the' concave surface of the recess and theconcave surface of the roller forming a bearing for said trunnion,whereby the spider is adapted to through the trunnion, the latterturning in said bearing and permitting the cradle to maintain itshorizontal position throughout its rotative movement with the spider,substantially as described.

,3. :In a device of the character described,

It is to be un- V revolve the cradle ingblock on the other thecombination of a shell or casing, a revoluble shaft in said casing, aspider mounted on and reroluble with said shaft, a cradle adapted tocontain the articles to be treated and adapted to be inserted in andwithdrawn from said casing, a trunnion on said cradle, a trunnionbearing block, and a detachable connection between said bearingbloclrand said spider, whereby the cradle may be revolved by the spider andmaintain its horizontal disposition throughout its ro-- tative movementstherewith, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shell orcasing, a shaft revoluble in said casing, spiders on said shaft andrevoluble therewith, a cradle adapted to contain the articles to betreated and to be inserted in and withdrawn from said casing, trunnionson the end-portions of said cradle, a bearing on the inner spider forone of said trunnions into which said trunnion is adapted to belongitudinally inserted and withdrawn, a beartrunnion, and a detachableconnection between said bearingblock and the outer spider, whereby thecradle may revolve with the spiders and maintain its horizontaldisposition throughout its rotative movement, substantially asdescribed.

In a structure of the character described, the combination of a shell orcasing, revoluble means in said casing, an interrupted trackway in saidcasing, a cradle adapted to contain the articles to be treated andequipped with wheels adapted to travel onsaid trachway, and detachableconnections between said cradle and revoluble means adapted to becomeoperative to support the cradle on said revoluble means before thewheels of the cradle reach the interruptions of the trackway on theinward 'trarel of the cradle, the cradle being free to turn with saidrevoluble means when said wheels register with the trackwayinterruptions, substantially as described.

In a structure of the character described, the combination of a shell orcasing, a shaft revoluble in said casing, a pair of spiders mounted onsaid shaft and adapted to rotate therewitln-a notched trackway in. saidcasing, a cradle adapted to contain the articles to be treated andequipped with rollers adapted to travel on the trackway, and detachableconnections between said cradle and spiders, the notches of the trackwaypermitting the cradle to rotate with the spiders when all of the cradlerollers: are in register with the trackway notches, substantially asdescribed.

In a structure of the character described, the combination of a shell.or cas- Copies of this patent may ,be obtained for five :cents each, byaddressing the a pair of spaced means, the cradle wheels being ing, ashaft revoluble in said casing, a pair of spiders mounted on said shaftand adapted to rotate therewith, a notched trackway. in said casing, acradle adapted tocontain the articles to be treated and equipped withrollers adapted to travel on said trackway, and detachable connectionsbetween said cradle and spiders adapted to become operative upon theinward travel of the cradle on the tracliway, the notches ofthe-trackway permitting the cradle to rotate with the spiders when allof the cradle rollers are in register with said notches, substantiallyas described.

8. In a structure of the character described, the combination of a shellor casing, a shaft revoluble in said casing, a pair of. spaced spidersmounted on said shaft and revoluble therewith, the outer spider beingapertured, a notched trackway in said casing, a cradle adapted tocontain the articles to be treated, wheels on said cradle adapted totravel on said trackway, the cradle being adapted during its insertionin the casing to pass through the aperture of said outer spider, atrunnion on the inner end of said cradle adapted to engage a trunnionbearing on the inner spider, a trunnion on the outer end of said cradle,a trunnion bearing-blockon said outer trunnion, and a detachableconnection between said bearing-block and the outer spider, thenotchesof said trackway being so located that all of the wheels ofthecradle will register therewith. only when the cradle is sufiicientlyinserted in. the casing for its trunnions to be properly supported onthe spiders, substantially "as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a shell orcasing, a shaft revoluble in said casing, supporting-means on saidshaft, a trackway in said casing provided with unequally spaced notches,a cradle adapted to contain the articles to be treated, wheels on saidcradle adapted to travel on said trackway, and detachable con- 1nections for said cradle and supporting-' so spaced that whenever anypair of wheels registers with the trackway notches the remaining wheelswill support the cradle on the trackway, X- cept when all cradle wheelsregister with notches, in which case the cradle is free to revolve withthe supporting-means, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM G. BORN; JAMES L. LANE. lVitnesses:

LOUIS Morin, WALTER I-IAGEN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

